3/1 To Win
Jack Stretton scored four goals as Derby County Under-18s earned an emphatic 8-0 victory over Newcastle United at Darsley Park.
Justin Walker’s side’s first away win and maiden clean sheet of the campaign came via a first-class performance in the North East and they found themselves 5-0 up at half time, with Stretton completing a hat-trick and Eiran Cashin and Connor Dixon also scoring before the interval.Stretton and Cashin netted again in the second half, with substitute Yoann Greco completing the scoring.
Derby opened the scoring after just 11 minutes; a quickly taken corner by Tyree Wilson was played short to Morgan Whittaker, whose inch-perfect cross picked out defender Cashin in the penalty area, who expertly buried his effort into the top corner.
Eight minutes later, Stretton doubled Derby’s lead after he dispossessed opposition midfielder Josh Scott and single-handedly broke down Newcastle’s back line and executed a composed finish past home stopper, Will Brown.
Stretton’s second came at the end of a phenomenal counter attack. Festy Ebosele’s cross picked out Whittaker, who shuffled the ball on to Stretton, before his instinctive finish with the outside of his foot gave Derby a three-goal lead.
After just 26 minutes, the visitors were ahead by four goals, with Dixon sliding in to finish off Wilson’s low delivery.
On the stroke of half time, Stretton completed his hat-trick. Another swift counter attack from the Rams culminated when Jason Knight’s inch-perfect pass sent Stretton clear on goal and he shrugged off two defenders before his ferocious effort went in via the inside of the post.
Just four minutes into the second half, Derby had continued to extend their advantage. Stretton’s header from another cross by Wilson beat the keeper as the Rams’ goal-happy forward netted his ninth Premier League – North goal of the campaign, making him the league’s joint-top goalscorer, alongside Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood.
Defender Cashin then got his second goal of the match and Derby’s seventh, with an even more spectacular finish than his first, as his half-volley from Whittaker’s corner crashed in off the underside of the crossbar.
Substitute Greco completed the scoring with three minutes remaining, as he got in the end of Whittaker’s in-swinging free-kick.
What’s To Come…
The convincing victory for Derby moved them up to fourth place in the Premier League – North standings, three points clear of Manchester City.
Derby now face another long away journey, which will see them travel to the south coast to begin their Premier League Cup campaign against Brighton and Hove Albion at the AMEX Elite Football Performance Centre on Saturday 29th September.
They return to league action a week later when they host Stoke City at the Training Centre in partnership with the University of Derby.
Next Five…
Brighton and Hove Albion U18s Vs Derby County U18s- Saturday 29th September 2018 (kick-off: 12pm)
Derby County U18s Vs Stoke City U18s- Saturday 6th October 2018 (kick-off: 11am)
West Bromwich Albion U18s Vs Derby County U18s- Saturday 20th October 2018 (kick-off: 11am)
Everton U18s Vs Derby County U18s- Saturday 27th October 2018 (kick-off: 12pm)
Derby County U18s Vs Sunderland U18s- Saturday 3rd November 2018 (kick-off: 1pm)
Words: Jonty Colman
